Asthma UK responds to new research by the University of Leicester

A new asthma pill that has the power to significantly reduce the severity of the condition has been developed. It’s the first new asthma pill for 20 years, and the drug is currently being evaluated in late stage clinical trials in patients with severe asthma.

Although promising, this pill still needs further testing in larger trials before we know exactly how well it works and it can be prescribed to people with asthma.

Around a quarter of a million people with asthma have difficulty breathing almost all of the time and their asthma simply doesn’t respond to current available asthma treatments. So, although it’s too early to be able to say that we definitely have a new treatment for asthma, any new drug on the horizon is welcome news.

Dr Samantha Walker, Director of Research and Policy at Asthma UK, said: “This research shows massive promise and should be greeted with cautious optimism.

“The possibility of taking a pill instead of using an inhaler will be a very welcome one among the 5.4 million people in the UK with asthma, particularly as this study focused on people who develop the condition in later life, some of whom we know can struggle with the dexterity required to use an inhaler.

“More research is needed and we’re a long way off seeing a pill for asthma being made available over the pharmacy counter, but it’s an exciting development and one which, in the long term, could offer a real alternative to current treatments.”

Asthma UK has supported the work of this world-leading research team in the past, funding the basics that have made this research possible. Despite not funding this study, our research funding is essential to progress like this.